Vehicle lighting system



Original Filed April 29, 1936 FIG. 1.

I INVENTOR. .Jnhn Johan 5 E11 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VEHICLE LIGHTING SYSTEM. John Johanaen, Pactola, S. Dak.

Claims.

tir'e lighting system when a defect occurring in only one circuit of the system causes the fuse to melt. g

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved fuse-protected vehicle lighting system including a pair of independent lightihg circuits and which system will, upon the occurrence of a defect in one of the .circuits such as to cause the fuse to melt, automatically'operate through the other circuit.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved lighting system for vehicles includinga main and an auxiliary lighting circuit, each automatically operating as a reserve circuit for the other.

Astill further object is the provision of a novel arrangement of fuses adapted to furnish protection to a plurality of circuits in a'vehicle lighting system.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accomq panying drawing, forming a part of this specifi cation and in which drawing:

. Figure 1 is .a diagrammatic view of a vehicle lighting system embodying the present invention and including a main and an auxiliary lighting circuit, the normally utilized portions of the system being shown by heavy lines. I

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing by heavy lines those portions of the system being utilized after a partial change-over from the main to the auxiliary lighting circuit has occurred.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing by heavy lines those portions of the system being utilized after the change-over from the main to the auxiliary lighting circuit has been completed.

Referring to the drawing, which for the purpose of illustration shows only a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein similar reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the various views, the improved lighting system may include a pair of fixed contacts l2 each of which may beconnecte'd to one of a pair of terminals H, the connection in each instance preferably including one of a pair of auxiliary fuses 20. A pair of spaced-apart fixed terminals 23 and 23 may also be provided. Posltioned between the contacts 'l2 and preferably slidably contacting the terminal 25 is a rod 3i having a contact head 33 which preferably is urged toward the contacts l2 by a spring 34. A main fuse 33 preferably of greater capacity than that of the auxiliary fuses may be secured at its opposite ends respectively to the contact head 33 and the fixed terminal 23 so that the main fuse 35 may serve to normally hold the contact head 33 in spaced relation to the contacts l2.

The improved lighting system may. include a main or bright light circuit 50 and an auxiliary lighting circuit 5|, which may be of the conventional dimmer or depressed beam type or it may be of an intensity equal to that of the bright light circuit. A source of current 32, which may be the storage battery of the vehicle, is adapted to selectively energize either lighting circuit as by means of a suitable single pole double throw switch 53. The main fuse 33 is interposed between the source of current and the switch, the terminal 23 being connected to the switch and the terminal having a connection to the bat- 3O tery or other source of current. Conductors 54 J may serve to connect the terminals I'I one to each of the lighting circuits 50 and 5|. An ad! ditlonal or tail light circuit 55 may also be included in thesystem by tapping the source of current, beyond the main fuse and preferably at the arm of the switch 53. Suitable ground connections 36 may be made for the return of the current to its source.

Referring to Figure 1, which illustrates the circuit ready for normal operation, current will flow from its source 52 through terminal 23, rod 31, main fuse 35, terminal 23, to the arm of the switch 53, from whence a portion will pass through the tail light circuit 55 and the remainder will pass through either circuit or 5| depending on the position of the arm of the switch 53. With the arm of the switch positioned as shown in Figure 1, the main or bright light circuit 50 will be energized.

As shown in Figure 2, if a short circuit or abnormal ground occurs in any energized part of the system beyond the main fuse, the excessive current flow will melt the main fuse and release the contact head 33 which will thereupon be moved by the spring 34 into engagement with the pair of contacts l2. Current will then flow from its source 52 through terminal 25 and rod 3| to the contact head 33. A portion of the current will then flow from the contact head through each of the two contacts 12, fuses 20, terminals l1 and conductors 54 to each lighting circuit 50 and 5| respectively and also from the previously utilized lighting circuit, which in the present instance is circuit 50, back through the switch arm to the tail light circuit 55.

Referring now to Figure 3, the short circuit or abnormal ground which originally caused the main fuse to melt will thereupon cause that auxiliary fuse which is carrying current to the defective circuit to melt. The other auxiliary fuse will of course remain intact so long as the remaining lighting circuit is in good condition. The additional or tail light circuit 55 will be disconnected by the melting of the auxiliary fuse. If desired, the circuit 55 may, when so disconnected, indicate that a change-over has occurred.

The numeral 51 designates a conventional main light switch for disconnecting the lighting circuits 50, 5| and 55 when illumination is not required.

It will thus be seen that a vehicle lighting system including a main or normally utilized lighting circuit and an auxiliary or normally inactive lighting circuit has been provided and that upon failure of the main fuse due to a sudden defect in the utilized circuit, current will be automatically by-passed or shunted thru fused conductors to both the utilized and the normally inactive lighting circuits, and thereupon the fused conductor serving the defective circuit will automatically redisconnect that circuit while the auxiliary lighting circuit will remain in operation and permit the vehicle to safely come to a stop or proceed to a garage for repairs.

Various changes may be made in the form of invention and the system of operation herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A lighting system for vehicles including a pair of lighting circuits, a source of current normally energizing one of said circuits, means positioned between the source of current and the normally energized circuit and adapted to disconnect the source of current from the circuit when a defect occurs in said circuit, means adapted to connect the source of current to both lighting circuits upon disconnection of the source of current from the normally energized circuit by said first mentioned means, and means associated with said second mentioned means for automatically redisconnecting the defective normally energized circuit.

2. A lighting system comprising a main and an auxiliary lighting circuit, a source of current, a switch selectively connecting the source of current to either of said lighting circuits, a main fuse interposed between the source of current and the switch, a normally disconnected fused conductor between the source of current and the main lighting circuit, a normally disconnected fused conductor between the source of current and the auxiliary lighting circuit and means automatically connecting said fused conductors between the source of current and their respective lighting circuits upon melting of the main fuse.

3. In a vehicle lighting system, two independent lighting circuits, a source of current, a switch selectively connecting the source of current to either of said lighting circuits, a main fuse positioned between the source of current and the switch, a normally disconnected fused conductor positioned between the source of current and one of said lighting circuits, and means automatically connecting said fused conductor upon disconnection by the main fuse of the source of current from the other lighting circuit.

4. A lighting system of the character described including a main lighting circuit, an auxiliary lighting circuit, a source of current, a switch selectively connecting the source of current to either of said lighting circuits, a main fuse positioned between the source of current and the switch, a normally disconnected conductor between the source of current and one of said lighting circuits, and means associated with said main fuse, said means automatically connecting said conductor upon melting of the main fuse.

5. A lighting system comprising a main and an auxiliary lighting circuit, a source of current, a switch selectively connecting the source of current to either of said lighting circuits, a main fuse interposed between the source of current and the switch, a normally disconnected fused conductor between the source of current and the main lighting circuit, a normally disconnected fused conductor between the source of current and the auxiliary lighting circuit, means automatically connecting said fused conductors between the source of current and their respective lighting circuits upon melting of the main fuse and an additional circuit tapping the source of current between the main fuse and the switch.

JOHN JOHANSEN. 

